Restaurants

Liba Falafel

Description:

A whole shop devoted to the humble falafel may sound a little crazy, but once you taste the crispy, organic chickpea balls of goodness coming out of Gail Lillian’s kitchen and see the toppings bar, it will make perfect sense. Lillian established a brick-and-mortar store, based on her popular food truck last year, and it’s been swarmed ever since. The falafel pita sandwich arrives wearing tahini and chimichuri, and it’s up to you to dress it up more in delicious finery at the toppings bar. It’s a seasonally inspired salad bar with all sorts of exotic pickled items, sauces, and salads depending on the time of year—and whims of the kitchen. Pile on the cinnamon-hinted Moroccan carrot salad, add a dab of those grilled peaches, spoon in a little chunky chutney. There are about 20 toppings to choose from, so you can go sweet, sour, crunchy, or smooth, as your mood dictates. Sides include lime-garlic-sweet potato fries, soup, and spiced pita chips. Liba makes agua fresca (so fruity your straw gets plugged) daily, plus sweet treats. Liba is perpetually crowded, but the line moves fast. Serves lunch and early dinner weekdays.